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TV Times

Peraliya : A story of dramatic suspense

By Susitha R. Fernando
"Peraliya" a tele-film shot in Australia is a story woven around a couple living abroad that meets with a tragic end to their married life. It is screened every Saturday at 7.30pm on the ITN Channel.

A scene from 'Peraliya': Sriyani and Jayasri Chandrajith

The mini-film is directed and co-produced by Sriyani Amarasena the script for which is written by Chandrasiri Dodangoda.

While directing Sriyani also plays a major role with Paboda Sandeepani, Jayasri Chandrajith, Lucky Radaliyagoda, Gami Nihara Jayasinghe, Diyana Fernando and Palitha Gunathilake.

The entire teledrama was filmed in Australia including places like 'Blue Mountains range, flower gardens, Opera House and the airport in Sydney.

Eddie who was born in Sri Lanka is a wealthy businessman living in Australia. Being married and middle aged he invites his nephew Rahal and his wife Kanthi who are in Sri Lanka to live with him in his lonely mansion in Australia. This young couple brings a new light to Eddie's house and he appoints Rahal to a good post in his business establishment and also treats Kanthi affectionately.

Lucky, a friend of Eddi is a Sri Lankan living in Australia and works as a Private Detective. His job was kept a secret from everyone including Eddi.

One day Eddie meets Yvonne, a Sri Lankan lady at a dancing show. Eddie immediately falls in love with her due to her kind temperament. Not only that, he informs this to Rahal and Kanthi and discloses his intention to marry her.

Though the news makes Kanthi happy, her husband Rahal shows his displeasure about it. He explains to Kanthi about the loss of wealth they would suffer, if Uncle Eddie gets married to another woman. But Kanthi is generous enough to feel happy over Eddie's happiness and is grateful to him for having invited them to Australia and offering them a life of luxury and comfort.

Meanwhile Eddie is getting ready to marry Yvonne and this makes Rahal more excited. And he makes plans to prevent Eddie's marriage and this he does not disclose even to his wife Kanthi.

Suddenly Eddi disappears one week ahead of his wedding and this makes everyone curious. Yvonne questions Rahal and Lucky too gets involved in the questioning. Answering cleverly Rahal manages to get away from any suspicion.

Meanwhile Eddie haunts the house in the night.

By this time Rahal gets involved with a girl named Christine who works in Eddi's office.

Kanthi questions Rahal about his love affair and this gives rise to unending quarrels between the couple. Rahal decides to get rid of Kanthi too thus he starts to show an affection to his wife.

One day he plans a pleasure trip with Kanthi and the trip ends with the disappearance of the woman too.

This adds more problems to the detective Lucky who keeps an eye on what is happing in Rahal's family. Questioned by Lucky, Rahal tells that Kanthi had returned to Sri Lanka on an urgent matter. And soon Rahal takes Christine to his house and starts a new life with her.

What happened to Eddie? What happened to Kanthi? Is she dead or alive? Would Lucky who is investigating the mysterious disappearances be able to uncover them? And all these would be answered at the end of 'Peraliya'.

In the technical crew are Saman Sigera behind the camera. Jagath Weerathunga did the editing and Lucky Radaliyagoda co-produced the miniplay.

Film 'Sonduru Dadabima' tackles feminine behaviour

By Susitha R. Fernando
Novelist and journalist Anura Horatius. who entered the cinema with his maiden direction "Sonduru Dadabima", is awaiting his copy sent for post production touches to be done in India.

Mahendra and Srinath in a scene from "Sonduru Dadabima"

Scripted, screenplay written and directed by Anura himself the film was produced by W. A. S. K. Samarawickrema.

"Sonduru Dadabima" written in the genre of a detective story portrays how a woman works to achieve her objectives.

The story is woven around two characters of a boy and a girl who are distinctly different from each other in their outlook on life.

Kamal, a married soldier has given up his wife and lives with his parents. Samangi abandoned at her most beautiful life lives all alone with a fatherless child. They meet accidentally.

While Samangi is planning a bright future for her child, Kamal hopefully waits to fill the gap created by the loss of his wife.

Meanwhile Samangi is caught up in a trap made by an unknown gang. There the girl makes a false confession stating that Kamal is her husband and as a result Kamal is imprisoned. Samangi is expecting another child but cannot free herself from the trap she is in. The film was filmed in and around Colombo city and Mawenella.

In the cast are Dilhani Ekanayake, Sanath Wimalaweera, G. R. Perera, Muri Samarasinghe, Tony Ranasinghe, Mahendra Perera and Rex Kodippili.

'Red Dragon': A suspenseful story
Once again another story of the Hannibal series 'Red Dragon' starring Anthony Hopkins is now being screened at Liberty cinema in Colombo.

Two years ago the second of the trilogy 'Hannibal' (first being the 'The Silence of the lambs') was made based on the novel by Thomas Harris and starring Hopkins as Hannibal came on the screen.

Based on the novel 'Red Dragon' by the same writer of 'Hannibal', the film was directed by Brett Ratner and was produced by Dino De Laurentiis.

The author of the novel 'Red Dragon' has introduced three characters whose fates were devastatingly intertwined; the brilliant psychiatrist turned killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter; physically scarred FBI investigator, Will Graham; and the ritualistic butcher known as The Tooth Fairy.

A killer like Dr. Hannibal Lector always has fans-damaged creatures who wallow in the details of his sensationally brutal crimes. The mere fact of his existence thrills them, and the outrage and cold sweat he provokes in weaker mortals sustain them as they trudge through lonely, bitter lives. For these misfits, Lector is a superior being. They are certain that he possesses the rare capacity to preserve them as they perceive themselves, and to respect the absolute necessity of their own depraved act.

Lecter appreciates their devotion, especially now, he's had too few diversions since taking up residence at Baltimore State hospital for the Criminally Insane.
The FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) has had fans, too, but never wanted them. And he has the rare ability to think like a serial killer. This gift (or curse) allows him to apprehend Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter, although he nearly dies in the attempt. The experience leaves him emotionally and mentally wounded. A breakdown ensues, and Will quits the business. He can't take it anymore.

Some time later, he is approached by FBI Section Chief Jack Crawford (Harvey Kietel), who wants Will to contribute his abilities to a new case. There is a serial killer, known as the Tooth Fairy (Ralph Fiennes), killing families and leaving shards of broken mirrors in his victims' eyes. Will reluctantly agrees to help, with the understanding that his contributions will be entirely anonymous. After a consultation with the imprisoned Hannibal Lecter, problems ensue, and Will is irrevocably pulled into the case, with his life (and the lives of his family) put into peril.

In 1986, director Michael Mann directed 'Manhunter', a cinematic adaptation of Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon. It starred William Petersen, Tom Noonan, Joan Allen, and (in the first appearance of Hannibal Lecter) Brian Cox. Sixteen years later - following the box office success of Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, both featuring Anthony Hopkins as Lecter as another adaptation of the same novel.

Lucky Radaliyagoda; a man of many parts

Lucky Radaliyagoda plays the lead as a detective police officer in the minifilm "Peraliya" directed by veteran actress Sriyani Amerasena.

Presently living in Australia, Lucky also the co-producer of the teledrama in which most of the scenes were filmed in Australia.

Having started his acting career playing a part in the internationally acclaimed work of Titus Totawatte's "Handaya" as a child has thereafter graduated to the silver and the mini-screen.

After leaving Sri Lanka Lucky had to give up his interest in acting. Living in Australia he is an air-conditioning engineer by profession and runs several other businesses.

Acting in 'Peraliya' Lucky has returned to his first love and hopes to produce a teledrama from where he lives now every year to be screened in Sri Lanka.

"With the teledramas done in Australia Sri Lankan audiences would have an opportunity to see the beauty of this country and it also helps the local actors and actresses to get a different experience acting in a environment away from their homeland," Lucky told the TV Times.

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